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Chapter 23
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The League of Rogues Chapter 24
The gilded grandfather clock in the upstairs hallway chimed seven, waking Godric. The fire crackled, twigs and bits of logs snapping. He lay on his back with Emily, still asleep, curled up against his side. The feel of her in his arms was wonderful. A perfect fit. He wanted to hold her more often, keep her close so he could smell the flowery scent in her hair, relish her satiny skin beneath his palms.They could always be like this, he realized. He and Emily could grow old this way, spending years exploring each other. He craved that elusive, impossible future. To want something, to know you could have it, and once you had it, lose it. He wasn't ready for that, might never be ready. But what could it hurt to pretend, for at least a few days, to have what he wanted? Godric slid a hand under the covers, seeking the edge of her night rail. His fingers met bare skin near her calves, and he slid the fabric up to expose her hips to his hand. Emily's head twisted a little. She nuzzled his ch
The League of Rogues Chapter 25
Rather than Godric, Ashton waited outside Emily's door to escort her to breakfast. Today the baron looked exceedingly fashionable in a dark blue coat, biscuit-colored breeches and an immaculately tied cravat.He smiled and took her arm. "Emily.""Good morning, Ashton." She couldn't resist the urge to smile back.With Ashton alone she felt like a queen. It was a pity Charles lacked his subtle charm. He'd be truly dangerous to every woman in the ton if he accomplished that skill.She proceeded with Ashton down to the dining room, with only Cedric present. He rose, bowed and sat back down as she took her seat."Lucien and Charles left for London about ten minutes ago. I believe they'll return tonight," Ashton said."Is Godric coming down?" She couldn't forget the tension that had passed between them. Emily had the jarring sense that he might try to avoid her."Yes, he's trying to find an old hunting coat.""A hunting coat? He doesn't have one?" Every sensible man had at least one
The League of Rogues Chapter 26
Thomas Blankenship stood in the parlor of Evangeline Mirabeau's townhouse, admiring the woman. She reclined on a chaise and watched him through hooded eyes painted an unusual, rich, honey-colored hazel. Her curveslarge breasts and shapely legs, revealed through a dampened muslin gown in thin bluecould easily harden a man. Her pale blonde hair curled in perfect ringlets down her neck and back.Blankenship smiled. It was no surprise that this courtesan had been the Duke of Essex's lover for a year and then some. If Blankenship didn't contain such a hatred for whores, he would be tempted to sate his desires between this woman's thighs. Evangeline had the body of a siren, one that beckoned men to perish upon the rocks at sea, but she lacked Emily's innocence and sweet nature. He craved that, needed to bathe in it, let it soothe the beast which rampaged in his head."Monsieur Blankenship, we have not met, have we?" A lilting, sultry French, Evangeline's accent alone would have swayed most
The League of Rogues Chapter 27
Emily was stretched out on her stomach, reading a collection of essays about philosophy when Godric entered. Her eyes lifted from the pages as he shut his door and leaned back on it, arms crossed. One dark brow rose, as did one corner of his mouth. Her heart leapt. She had the urge to bolt and hide in the underbrush like a startled fawn. The embers between them had smoldered beneath the surface far too long, and would finally be tended to. There would be no going back. Did she trust him?Yes. Far more than she ought to, but it was too late to question that part of her heart that gave itself over to him."Come to me, darling." Like the serpent offering her an apple, his tone promised to educate her with all of the things an innocent young woman shouldn't know.The book fell from her hands and she eased up into a sitting position. Her mind was clouding with heady desire. He had to be as desperate for this as she was. Emily let her legs dangle over the side of the bed and leaned back,
The League of Rogues Chapter 28
Godric returned to the drawing room, where he found all four of his friends overly interested in their billiards game. They glanced at him, then all looked quickly away, and for a long minute no one said a word.Charles tossed his cue carelessly on the table, ruining the game as it knocked balls out of place. "Bloody hell, if no one is going to ask, then I will. How was it?""How was what?" Godric pretended innocence."We all know that you and Emily" For a man who never failed for words, Charles certainly came up short now. "Well, you know Oh, for God's sake, we have ears, man!"Cedric hissed, "Good God, do you want to get us shot?"Godric wasn't the least bit upset. In fact, he found it rather amusing, the image of his friends scrambling like school boys in the hallway just for a glimpse through a keyhole How could he not laugh?"There will be no shooting of anyone, unless any man here dares to try seducing her now. Remember Rule Four. She has chosen me. Is that understood?"Cu
The League of Rogues Chapter 29
Emily paused at the open doorway to Godric's study. He was seated at his desk, pouring over ledgers and letters. She took the opportunity to memorize his features, paint them on the canvas of her mind, and burn them into her heartthe way his dark hair fell into his eyes, the strong hands that gripped the pages, the lean muscled legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.With a tentative step she crossed study's threshold. The wooden floor creaked. Godric glanced up at her, smiled and resumed his work. Perhaps another woman would have been upset that she hadn't been addressed. But Godric's polite acceptance of her trespass had a wholly different meaning. It represented trust. She didn't wish to ruin the moment by being bothersome and distracting. She selected a book from the shelves, a botanical discussion of plants native to Kent, and settled herself on the couch near him.After a quarter of an hour she looked up to find Godric glaring down at a ledger before him, his teeth gritte
The League of Rogues Chapter 30
Emily had calmed down after the scare of Evangeline's unexpected arrival before they reached the stairs, but her relief was short-lived. A door at the far end of the hall opened. Godric's arm tightened beneath her grasp."Ah bonsoir, Godric!" The most attractive woman Emily had ever seen walked down the hall. She was radiant with her salmon-toned gown, large breasts and wide hips. Blonde ringlets danced down her back in perfect proportions.Emily's chest tightened. She expected Godric to have taken a gorgeous woman as his lover, but to see this Aphrodite in the flesh was too much to bear. By comparison, she was young and inexperienced. She could never match Evangeline in looks or mimic that lusty gaze or sway of hips. To Emily's mortification, she realized she was no competition. If Godric wanted a real woman he could take Evangeline back without question.Godric frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the required introduction. "Return to your room at once." The sharp tone in his voice
The League of Rogues Chapter 31
Dinner that night was a far more formal affair than any other since Emily's abduction. Prior to Evangeline's arrival, all propriety and formality had been banished where the five lords were concerned. Now they observed every single point of etiquette, even though Evangeline wasn't present. Libba had told Emily that Godric had ordered his former mistress to take her meals in her room. That, at least, gave Emily a tiny sense of comfort, knowing that Godric wouldn't allow her to dine with them.He sat at the head of the table with Emily directly to his right. The rest of the men ranged down on either side according to titled order. Well turned out, each gentlemen wore black knee breeches and well-tailored black coats. Emily wore an ice blue silk gown overlaid with a layer of silver netting. Pale stars were embroidered on her matching slippers and pearls threaded her hair like frozen dewdrops. She couldn't believe the results Libba had wrought. She'd never looked so beautiful, never felt
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